Our present prime minister wields incredible power. National and international embarrassments relating to his leadership are something no other Malaysian PM has suffered. Yet, he hangs on to power. Perhaps the fear of dismounting the tiger and the inevitable end is too much to consider.

So with his cronies, he goes on spouting defences that hold no logic. Have the courage to clear your name. Umno’s ethics committee does not see any need to rein in the presiden,t thus establishing the fact that their president is above the party.

Every issue that confronts Najib Abdul Razak is his own creation. He can shoot his mouth off but there are many unexplainable issues that are critical to the Altantuya Shaariibuu case. We all read about murders that take place, but rare is the case when a body is blasted using C4 emanating from the Army when Najib was defence minister. Nothing further has been heard about this matter and no one seems to have been held accountable.

Why should someone use C4 to blast a body into dust especially when the lady has confessed that she was pregnant? Yes, we may not have proved a motive but common sense says that there must be a motive and possibly the right questions were never asked. This is what inflamed the late PI Bala. There are many sophisticated ways of subverting the law especially when powerful personalities are involved.

Secondly, there was something significant to hide and blasting met the twin objectives of both committing a murder as well as removing critical evidence. Why was Musa Safri, Najib’s aide to whom the two ‘special forces’ members reported, never called to give evidence? This may have uncovered as to who gave the orders to the two killers. We have seen hidden hands at work even over the last months and the possibility of interference cannot be discounted.

Then we have the whole issue around the late PI Bala, his affidavits and counter affidavits, the negotiations which also involved one of Najib’s younger brothers and the family of PI Bala being sent away to India on an arrangement. What has happened to the affidavit that a leading lawyer was supposed to have drafted for Najib? Finally why was there no appeal by the attorney-general (AG) to Razak Baginda’s acquittal?

The whole saga stinks and Najib Abdul Razak has the audacity to say that he is not at all involved. We are not for a moment implying that he was involved in the murder but what was his connection seeing that his bodyguards were involved. His cell phone call to Razak Baginda upon his arrest and that he allegedly would be meeting the then-inspector-general of police (IGP) remain concerning information in the public domain.

Then we have Deepak Jaikishen and his damming disclosures on YouTube about Najib and Rosmah Mansor. These are also in the public domain. Yet, they remain, silent. Najib and Rosmah should have sued him for libel and defamation. This, in addition to the business deals and payments promised. Taken as a whole Najib’s credibility reeks of questionable deals and relationships that have gone sour.

Add to this the whole IMDB saga and you have the picture of a leader who needs to be cleansed. A prime minister and finance minister, and chairperson of the IMDB advisory body who allows sovereign funds to be placed in the Cayman Islands. What does this say of his integrity and responsibility? Perhaps, this is a measure of the accountability that prevails at the highest levels of our government as well as the party he leads.

Further blurring the truth

Additionally, the continuing justifications by his cronies only further blurs the truth. The resulting trust deficit breeds cynicism and frustration amongst many that nothing can be done. We have so many laws under the Anti-Money-Laundering Act and to date no action has yet been taken against AmBank by Bank Negara for not disclosing that such large amounts being deposited in an account bearing the name of the PM.

The dishonesty continues with statements about donations, contribution for having taken a stand against IS and other reasons for the PM to secure such an amount. Then we have the story of it being used for the last elections to ensure Umno’s victory. We know that all this reeks of illegal transactions but our thick-skinned leaders justify the impossible. This is neither halal nor Islamic. It nevertheless reflects poorly on the behaviour and conduct of our leader.

As Malaysians we realise more and more how difficult it is to get at the truth. Bersih 4 has had its day and its clarion call to make a difference. We must now laud the initiative of the Bar Council for passing a resolution to initiate legal action against those who have obstructed the functions of the special task force. Many NGOs and well-meaning Malaysians have expressed their views and yet the prime minister does not take heed, and neither does his party.

Meanwhile, Umno is covertly supporting the ‘Red Shirts’ who are expecting to hold a rally and Umno has encouraged its members to show support. The urging is to reclaim the ‘dignity’ of the Malays. The race card is being played giving the assumption that Bersih was a Malaysian Chinese initiative. Nothing can be further from the truth and this simply shows the racist side of Umno.

Where are their ‘Satu Hati Satu Jiwa’ or 1 Malaysia slogans? Many parrot these but the leadership show scant regard and are bankrupt enough to play the race card to ensure that they remain in power. So far they have failed in their many attempts to stir ethnic feelings by provoking issues like the ‘dress code’ saga, the ‘Low Yat’ Plaza and now yet another with the planned Sept 16 rally.

The sad part of this saga is the role played by the other component parties within Barisan Nasional. No component party leader seems to have the spine and the moral courage to stand up and speak out. Why remain a member of a coalition where expediency means playing the race card.

After years of patronage politics and money power the perception is that party leaders of the coalition seem indebted to the money that Umno can garner. For this they seem ready to mortgage their political future, independent thinking and salvage any credibility left in them.

Time for re-thinking

This is the time for re-thinking and if MCA, MIC and Gerakan have a future the time has come for them to take a stand. A political realignment with new forces and groups are needed if we love this county and want to make a difference. By continuing to support the present corrupt regime they are participating in their own political demise.

Citizens and supporters expect more and enough is enough regarding the prevailing situation. With the economy down, unemployment on the increase, price and costs issues as well as the devaluation of the ringgit against the US dollar, we are entering a precarious state. Why is it that good people prefer silence and condone the ills of such a regime?

Leadership is not defined by mere expression of beliefs and slogans. What speaks very clearly is the conduct and behaviour of the leadership. When this does not match the stated aims than what is evident is a deep incongruence between the walk and the talk.

Those who support Najib Abdul Razak overtly and silently will both have to answer when the time comes for truth has the power eventually to reveal itself. There are many who are silent because of fear. A deputy public prosecutor (DPP) from the AG’s Chamber is now missing, probably abducted. Others even from the Special Branch have been transferred. These are all actions of desperate people.

The shadows remain and uncovering the whole truth takes time as we need to create a climate that makes people fearless. With pliant institutions and fearful individuals the crooked continue to make hay. Nevertheless the relentless pursuit for the whole truth calls for dissent and loyalty to higher goals.